A Study of One Piece Animation

Galaxy 9000

Uh no. If it had been one-chapter pacing, we would have seen Surume in this chapter. This is a bit less than one chapter per episode.

Sorry, I meant most of the time 1 chapter pacing. And the occasional less than 1 chapter episode.

Maron

@Yuugi's:

Rather than regurgitate info from Kanzenshuu, I'll just point out their Production Guide details quite well what the animation supervisor does, what the series and episode directors do, and who storyboards. :)

Been meaning to say thank you for this! It's just that I was thinking of One Piece Episode 199 recently and wondering how Mamoru Hosada's style managed to leak into it when he wasn't the Animation Director and just the regular one, but now I think I get it. Although with this saying the Series Director does storyboards that again makes me wonder about One Piece. Does that mean on the episdoes that Uda directed were storyboarded by him as well?

JulieYBM

Yeah. One of the reasons Dragon Ball Z episode #179 was so good was because Series Director Nishio Daisuke was the episode director, meaning he was even more hands on when it came to the storyboarding and style of the episode.

Speaking of which, with a new Dragon Ball movie coming out in the next year expect One Piece to take a hit.

Mr. Luffy

Anyone know who was responsible for the brief momenst of very fluid-looking animation between Zoro & Sanji attacking the crowd and Jinbei's sadface?

ShinigamiKing

But why was the drawing style so awful though?

eliman12

Next episode looks very very promising with title and with the preview and with animation

Sick_Fool

@Mr.:

Anyone know who was responsible for the brief momenst of very fluid-looking animation between Zoro & Sanji attacking the crowd and Jinbei's sadface?

Looks like Tate to me.

Crossword

No, Tate wasn't involved with this episode. Here's the full list of key animators:

Masayuki Takagi
Mayu Saito
Eisaku Inoue
Jung-Pyong Oh
Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru
Yoichi Mitsui
Megumi Akiyama
Airi Ishikawa
Mitsuo Shindo
Lee Hung-So
Kim Bong-Duck

Of the bunch, I only recognize Takagi, Inoue, Nakatsuru, and the Koreans at the bottom. Nakatsuru seems to be the best animator of the five, though I can't confirm if he did the scene in question.

JulieYBM

There's a clip on YouTube that appears to be Nakatsuru's cut, but that is the one with Sanji doing his led spin thingy. Then again, maybe he did that cut, too. Who knows?

Quick note: I'm surprised to see Shindou Mitsuo working on One Piece. He's been on a few Toei titles recently, which surprises me considering he was the animation supervisor on Dragon Ball and the first third of Dragon Ball Z. I figured he'd be retired by now, considering how Hellish those days had to have been.

Another quick note: The animation supervisor rotation hasn't been very consistent lately. It's weird. Weaker animation supervisors are getting guys like Tate, Inoue, Nakatsuru, and company to do work on their episodes. Near as I can tell, Toei doesn't quite seem to be outsourcing to any Japanese studios anymore, either, or at the very least not crediting the studios like they did on Dragon Ball Z.

Samwize78

A few upcoming episode titles:
-559- "Hurry Up Luffy! Shirahoshi's Impending Death!"
-560- "Beginning Of The Battle! Luffy Vs. Hody"
-561- "Battle Royal! The Crew Vs. The New Fishman Pirates!"

eliman12

Which animators?????

Kibin

Was Shida involved in 558? When Dekken threw the knife at Shiharoshi?

Crossword

I'm pretty sure that that was Tomita (back after nearly two years). I don't think Shida was involved with the episode.

…

It would be pretty ballin' if Kodai Watanabe did some work on One Piece. It's probably unlikely to happen outside of a movie, but One Piece is the only recent Toei show that he hasn't done any work on.

tatermoog

I love this thread, though I don't really have a way to contribute. Thanks to all the folk in here that keep it going and put together the screenshots.

eliman12

When the names of the animators will be out?

eliman12

When the animators will be out?

eliman12

Thanks to archah

Full staff

560

Script: Tanaka Hitoshi
Storyboard: Ueda Yoshihiro
Episode director: Ueda Yoshihiro
Animation director: Shingaki Shigefumi

561

Script: Nakayama Tomohiro
Storyboard: Komaki Aya
Episode director: Komaki Aya
Animation director: Ishizuka Natsumi

562

Script: Suga Yoshiyuki
Storyboard: Shida Naotoshi
Episode director: Imamura Takahiro
Animation director: Deguchi Toshio

563

Script: Tanaka Hitoshi
Storyboard: Ito Naoyuki
Episode director: Ito Naoyuki
Animation director: Kawamura Atsuko

Next titles (rough translation)

560: Fierce fighting starts! Luffy vs Hody!
561: Battle royal! Gangs vs New fishman pirates!
562: Luffy defeated?! Hody revenge's time
563: Shocking truth! Hody's true identity!

I don't know WTF going with pacing its or half chapter or 2 chapters

Crossword

Aside from stealth!Deguchi, that looks pretty good.

eliman12

Deguchi improved and beside Shida is the storyboard the episode always somehow looks good because of that.

Galaxy 9000

That looks like we'll be getting more than 1 chapter pacing. At least with 563.

JulieYBM

It's weird how Shida seems to be spending more time acting as a storyboarded for One Piece than a key animator, espicially after all the key animating he does on other Toei productions. Smile! PreCure episode #23 had a nice long sequence by him, but whenever Shida return to One Piece it's a short, slow cut.

Well, maybe Nakatsuru will be involved in one of these episodes…

--- Update From New Post Merge ---

It's weird how Shida seems to be spending more time acting as a storyboarded for One Piece than a key animator, espicially after all the key animating he does on other Toei productions. Smile! PreCure episode #23 had a nice long sequence by him, but whenever Shida return to One Piece it's a short, slow cut.

Well, maybe Nakatsuru will be involved in one of these episodes…

MasterKingJC

Yeah, it's hard to determine the episode pacing based on those titles.
Or it could just be Toei being Toei by having spoiler titles for events that only happen in the last 3 minutes.

JulieYBM

Not entirely sure, but I think Hisada Kazuya did the last three minutes or so of #561. Some of the movement seemed reminiscent of what he used to be able to do.

Crossword

Concerning the Arlong special that aired today, I really want to say that Luffy's final attack was done by Yoshihiko Umakoshi (Shiki's defeat in Movie 10) but one specific part of it reminds me of Kuroyanagi's style. I think it's either one or the other (or I could be wrong completely).

JulieYBM

I thought it looked a little like Tate, at least as far as his mouth was concerned. Hmm…

Also, dang, Toei at least did the fights some justice. This is the kind of storyboarding and animation I'd like to see a little more often on the TV series.

Crossword

Yeah, Luffy's mouth was what I was referring to. The thick motion lines looked my Umakoshi, but Luffy's mouth movements reminded me of the kind of animation used during Kuroyanagi's scene of Luffy thanking Rayleigh. And then the shot from above of Luffy's foot crashing back down through the roof looked like a third style…

I 'spose I'll just wait for confirmation from those with better eyes than I have. Sanji's fight especially, because that was great.

Jet Gatling

Hmm, seeing that special, it kinda reminded me like a modern version of the animation used for the old One Piece OVA and the first one piece movie, it was very well made.

o-chan

@Jet:

Hmm, seeing that special, it kinda reminded me like a modern version of the animation used for the old One Piece OVA and the first one piece movie, it was very well made.

Actually I felt stylistically the special seemed to follow the animation direction of Strong World specifically, especially when it came to the highlights of the character's hair (Luffy, Usopp) and coloring style. Yeah, it definitely was several notched above the regular TV animation but I'm beginning to get sick of Toei using all the good animators for the Specials (like with Tate and the last Toriko crossover) but not transitioning some of that over to the regular TV series.

O-chan

JulieYBM

Looks like Tate wasn't a part of the special, so it was probably Kuroyanagi or Umakoshi who did Luffy's finishing move.

But yeah, I agree with O-chan. Although, I think what is most vexing to me is the inconsistency of the rotation and use of animators.

Crossword

Neither was Umakoshi, actually. So, yeah, I'm going with Kuroyanagi for the finisher.

eliman12

I don't think Kuroyanagi that good to do that, or its just my imagenation? but I seen his work here and there everytime in OnePiece.

goty

Kuroyanagi did Sanji's fight in Strong world,

and other kickass scenes in Marineford. He's pretty great at his best.

And speaking of Umakoshi, his recent Saint Seiya Omega episodes are absolutely stunning. They look almost like a different series compared to most of the other episodes. Toei really should use him more in One Piece.

eliman12

I know what he did, but his work on the show always short and smooth I don't say don't good, but its short really quickly his attacks style.

And who his the new one who did luffy turning to rayligh and the second new who did luffy's attack on the pacisfista?
I heard they one of the top animators I want them do more scenes!

Crossword

Luffy's attack on the Pacifista was by Ken Otsuka. Luffy thanking Rayleigh was also Kuroyanagi.

eliman12

@Crossword:

Luffy's attack on the Pacifista was by Ken Otsuka. Luffy thanking Rayleigh was also Kuroyanagi.

Luffy with rayleigh not was this Yuki Hayashi? if my memory don't wrong.

Crossword

From what I understand Hayashi just did the part at the very end of Luffy shouting that he was going to be the Pirate King.

eliman12

@Crossword:

From what I understand Hayashi just did the part at the very end of Luffy shouting that he was going to be the Pirate King.

Yes I meant that, for god sake, why they don't use the big animators, and they took all the good ones this ugly anime had, Tate, Nakatani, Onishi, Tomita(I not sure he back completly)

JulieYBM

@goty:

Kuroyanagi did Sanji's fight in Strong world,
and other kickass scenes in Marineford. He's pretty great at his best.

And speaking of Umakoshi, his recent Saint Seiya Omega episodes are absolutely stunning. They look almost like a different series compared to most of the other episodes. Toei really should use him more in One Piece.

Yeah, Kuroyanagi is a beast. I still think Luffy versus Smoker was the last really well done bit of animation for the TV series after the budget fell a part after Amazon Lily.

XMURADX

Hi everyone…

I really don't know where to start....I guess I will start with the anime from where I left off.

553: really a great ep, very nice directing and awesome Shida scene, clearly he had enough time to finish it on his usual level.
554: Wow, worst ep since the time skip, I would never watch it again.
555: and here I thought the pv looked promising, another abysmal and boring ep.
556: fantastic ep, great opening scene with Nakatsuru, and nice action all around, ep had life to it. Takagi has been getting good staff lately, also nice directing as usual from Naoyuki Ito.
557: I watched the ep waiting for Tomita to appear, but nothing. Clearly Tomita was brought back to the show really late, since he was working on Gundam. So I don't think he was going to be able to do that long transformation scene on time.
558: yay! Tomita is back, but with a weak perfomance, as I said it felt like it was a last minute work, and it was great anyway.
559: great ep, it was consistently good, nice water sequences by GK Entertainment staff.
560: lol, 3 key animators, no wonder why the ep sucked.
561: my favorite ep so far, great directing from Aya,and animation was consistently good.

562: looks promising, shida on storyboard is a plus, also I noticed some good animation.
563: should be a good ep since Ito is directing, hopefully Kawamura gets back her good staff.

so Kenji Kuroyanagi and Yukihiro Urata were busy on the Nami ep, and they did really awesome scenes. i expect them to be back on the show within the next few episodes.

Only person missing is Naohiro Shintani, he is no where to be found, probably working on Movie Z which looks spectacular by the way.

Naoki Tate is busy on Toriko, he is probably replacing Ryo Onishi who is probably busy on Movie Z for sure. haven't heard much about Yuki Hayashi,I think she is working on the movie as well.

Naotoshi Shida will be doing key animation soon, he said that he is working on a scene with Luffy Vs. 15 enemies. I really don't know where exactly is that, from this point in the manga Luffy fought only Hody till the conclusion. probably a filler scene?

Ep of Nami, now that was one of the best things Toei ever did. It stomps all over Movie 8.Nakatani have done a great job in re-creating the feel of the old designs, and I prefer her designs to Hisada's.

Now regarding the key animators, I didn't check the list yet, but I already know who did most of the great scenes anyway.

What I know so far...

Kenji Kuroyanagi
-Little Nami reading the Book
-Arlong Shooting Belmere
-Sanji vs. Kurobe finale on land
-Luffy's final attack and the destruction of the building.

Yukihiro Urata
-Cut from Buggy to Luffy finishing the guy with nails in the beginning.
-Part where Momoo pulls Luffy's ship untill it flies and smashes to the ground?
-Luffy smashing the arlong park wall, then punching arlong until he smashes the wall.
-cut where arlong is in the water, then Luffy does gattling to the water, then arlong grabs his sword, his cut ends before Luffy smashes through the window.

Takashi Hashimoto
Still not sure what this great animator did, but I think he might responsible for the Zoro finale, or Luffy grabbing Mommo and throwing him to the sea even though it looked like Urata. Still comfirming, I'm gonna ask Hashimoto himself.

Akihiro Okuzawa
he did a small scene when Usopp runs towards Zoro and Sanji and then they smash his head.

Those were mainly the main scenes that I recognised. Anything with a question mark at the end is something that I'm not sure about. these are purely my speculation, and nothing is confirmed, but I'm almost 90% sure of what I said.

Sorry for the long post.

eliman12

Thanks, nice to see you posting after along time. and you said about Shida fight against 15 enemies
its on the movie probably cause I saw luffy kicking some soldiers on scenes of the movie.

Sean D. Capitan

Great to have you back, XMURADX. I love reading your opinions and analyses. You add so much for this thread.

Welcome back!

Jet Gatling

Nice to have you back Murad. Hmm, I wonder who's the oldest animator left on the team since the ones that did opening 5 left? Maybe…Ishizuka, was his name?

Maron

Kazuya Hisada did the first episode of the series and he's still around, though now it's as character designer and he doesn't direct episodes very often (one of the most recent he did was the first timeskip episode). And of course there's Kenji Yokoyama who started off on Episode 3 but still is a regular.

Crossword

Hisada, Inoue, Ide, Takagi, and Yokoyama have been around since the beginning, Shimanuki and Tate joined during Alabasta, Ishizuka started doing key animation during Alabasta though he didn't become an Animation Director until Enies Lobby.

I think that's all of the old guard who're still around in some capacity. Shingaki joined during Sabaody, Nakatani during that resort island filler inbetween Thriller Bark and Sabaody, Deguchi during Amazon Lily, Kawamura and Yamashita during Impel Down, and going under the assumption that his recent episode wasn't a one-off thing, Yusuke Isochi debuted as an Animation Director during Fishman Island, though he's apparently been onboard as a key animator for a little bit.

JulieYBM

Shimanuki and Tate were key animators in the first episode, actually. It was them, Hisada, Iizuka Youko and Take'uchi Tomekichi who had all come over from working on Dragon Ball under Seigasha.

eliman12

How Yusuke Isoch is he good? which episode he did?

Crossword

The first episode of Fishman Island's flashback. He was pretty good, I liked him.

XMURADX

@eliman12, thanks…He would have mentioned the movie if he was talking about it. But I'm not sure myself.

@sean d., thanks, it's my pleasure.

@jet gattling, as everyone said, Tate, Hisada, Ide, Inoue, Shimanuki, Takagi, and Yokoyama are still around since the beginning.

eliman12

PREVIEW ONE PIECE 564

Its just me or its going to be 563 2 chapters and 564 2 chapters?

eliman12

Full staff

564

Script: Uesaka Hirohiko
Storyboard: Endo Tetsuya
Episode director: Endo Tetsuya
Animation director: Takagi Masayuki

565

Script: Uesaka Hirohiko
Storyboard: Nakashima Yutaka
Episode director: Nakashima Yutaka
Animation director: Yokoyama Kenji

566

Script: Suga Yoshiyuki
Storyboard: Miyamoto Hiroaki
Episode director: Miyamoto Hiroaki
Animation director: Yamashita Megumi

567

Script: Suga Yoshiyuki
Storyboard: Miyamoto Hiroaki
Episode director: Miyamoto Hiroaki
Animation director: Yamashita Megumi

Next titles (rough translation)

564: To zero! Passionate desire to Luffy!
565: Luffy's whole body blow! Red Hawk explosion
566: Final conclusion! Hody's final battle
567: Stop Noah! Elephant Gatling of desperation!

There's mistake in 566 567